Hello everyone

I happened across your site while I was searching for something ... but let me tell you the story first ...

My 11yo son has a form of autism called Aspergers Syndrome. Aspergers Children have trouble sociallising and have a tendancy to develop fasinations with certain things. My son has a facination with disasters and in particular, the Titanic. He has just about every book and movie ever on the subject and even has his bedroom decorated to a titanic theme (his bed has a wooden cutout of the ship attached to it, the walls are painted blue for the sea and there are even a couple of iceburgs floating about the room) lol. Anyways - four years ago my son was given a gift of the book "Titanic" which came with a fully submergible and sinkable model of the titanic. This was probably the best gift he ever received and he loved it more than life itself. I have never know a child to be so completely wrapped in a gift lol. To cut a very long story short, at Christmas time last year, we went away and of course, his titanic had to come with us. We went to the beach one day and do or die, he desperately wanted to take his titanic with him because he wanted to see how it sank in real salt water (we don't get to the beach too often). While we were there - he formed a friendship with another little boy (something that is VERY difficult for him to do at the best of times). After spending hours playing together with my sons titanic - my son got up to watch a boat launch ... turned his back for approx five minutes ... when he returned - the other little boy had taken his titanic and disappeared. My son was just devastated. It was soooooo heartbreaking.
I have tried to find a replacement - but the only one I can find is on eBay - but will cost me around $90.00 (australian) dollars. As a single mum - I simply can not afford to pay that much.

I was hoping that some lovely people in here might be able to point me in the right direction of where I could find a model. I have tried the publishing company and all - but am told that the item isn't avaliable for the time being.

Can anyone help me at all??? My son and I would be forever grateful!

Thank you :)